Last February, I spent a week in Cuba and fell in love with the beauty and culture of this mysterious place. Although the country remains trapped under Communism and a lack of human rights, I still was able to find beauty in the people, the music, the glorious architecture and the land. It is a place I would love to go back to and see more.
Although I’ve already written rather extensively on Cuba, I discovered a few photos that I haven’t shared and thought it was time to return to one of my favorite places in Cuba: Old Havana. Take a walk with me through the lovely streets and step back in time.
Oh how I would love to go back…..
To view more posts on Cuba, click here.
Lovely to see more of your fine photographs, especially as I’m hoping to go in the Spring!
Now, you might well not have the time to respond to this question, but I’m intrigued to read your words….”the country remains trapped under communism and a lack of human rights.” If ye have the inclination, I’d love if you could expand on this a little….if only to say which particular human rights you think they lack? Thanks! Charlie.
Thanks for the comment! I have written a ton of posts on Cuba and this exact topic (which is why I didn’t go into detail on this post). Here is one that explains a lot: http://thirdeyemom.com/2014/05/13/cubas-special-period-and-the-un-triumph-of-the-revolution/
The real thing is that Cubans have no freedom of speech no freedom to vote for a government they want and lack many human rights. They are relatively trapped in a cycle of poverty and just getting by. Although they do have free education and health care, most cannot afford to eat what the communist stipend provides. All unrest or unhappiness with the government or the way things go in Cuba is instantly squashed and people are imprisoned. I have written a lot of other posts about Cuba regarding traveling and other topics more related to your question. If you have a chance to browse through them or some, here they all are! You will love it. It is a wonderful place despite its shortcomings. http://thirdeyemom.com/category/travel-2/travel-by-country/cuba/
Too late to read tonight, but Thank You so much for taking the time to update me! x
I really enjoyed that trip with you Nicole, albeit virtually. the wonderful colors are a delight to see once more.
Thanks Sue! 🙂
What a lovely journey…thank you!
So glad you enjoyed! Thanks for your comment!
Thank you again for the tour! Beautiful photos of this special country.
Glad you enjoyed Amy! I still have more posts unwritten from Cuba. Maybe I’ll get around to them sometime! 🙂
Wonderful tour of a place most of us will never see in person. Thanks for really nice pictures! ~SueBee
You’re welcome and so glad you enjoyed the post! 🙂
Amazing captures.
Thank you!
I always enjoy your photos of Cuba. That restaurant in the street really beckons me in, and of course I just love your laundry-day captures. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia! I got so many great pictures there. The lightening was so nice too and it felt easy. My picture taking was harder in Ethiopia usually given I was so busy taking notes and interviewing people and the lighting was no where as good.
Aahhh … the food, the people, the music and all of those old tropical customs.
It reminds me of Puerto Rico. And, why not? It’s a short distance and a tropical island.
I love the colors and the architectural shapes and designs. Great photos!!!! 😃
I would love to go to Puerto Rico! Some day. Thanks for the comment!
Puerto Rico is a US commonwealth. No passports or visa’s needed. It can be expensive in the San Juan area. It’s a nice island to visit. I would add it to your Bucket List. : )
I will have to go someday! 🙂
This was so reminiscent of our lovely year wandering the colonial cities of Mexico
I can only imagine LuAnn! You spent a year traveling around Mexico? Did you do it in the RV? Sounds amazing!
We visited so many beautiful colonial cities, and no we did not do it in the RV. We rented a house to have as a home base and took a bus whenever we traveled.
That is fabulous LuAnn! When did you do that? I knew you traveled in Mexico but did not know you were there for a year. How wonderful! 🙂
I guess it has been 4 years ago now, right before we began our RVing adventure. 🙂
Thanks for sharing more of your pictures. I’m so torn about Cuba, it’s somewhere I have wanted to go for ages. But having recently read Slow Train to Guantanamo, the stories of oppression put me off a bit. It’s so sad that people have to live like this.
Glad you enjoyed. I haven’t read that book yet on Cuba but have read quite a few. Yes it is a place full of so many contradictions. It was interesting for me to visit Cuba after visiting China which is so full of oppression as well. But the people and the culture made it so incredibly worth the visit. The government as well as our old policies have done a lot of harm but the people remain lovely.
Your pictures of Cuba are beautiful. The island is definitely on my list to visit.
Thank you! 🙂 Cuba is a beautiful place.
I have not read your other posts on Cuba so I’m not sure if my question has already been written about. I’ve been searching for flights to Cuba but the internet will not give me any flight information. May I ask the best way you went?
If you are American, then you cannot go to Cuba legally on a commercial flight without going through a special program with a legal tour operator. I went with Insight Cuba and the only way I could go direct from Miami was with them on a cultural tour. I wrote about it quite a bit on my blog. If you just search under topics, “Travel by Country”, then Cuba, and go back to the first post it will explain how I got there. You can also go illegally through Canada or Mexico as they normally don’t stamp your passports but I preferred to travel legally and really enjoyed it. If you are not an American, then you can easily go. Hope this helps!
I have dual citizenship so its not a problem. I dont have to do it illegaly. Thanks so much for weiting a blog in cuba. I started reading from the very beginning and so i feel dumb i asked upu first before reading. I am enjoying every post about ghis magnigicent country! Thanks again. I hope i can visit someday.
No problem!
One more question, i am wondering about the accomodations that InsightCuba has provided—were they nice hotels or inns? Thanks again. I am really enjoying the tour to Cuba through your journey!!
They were really great, especially in Havana. I was very impressed with the trip!
I’m so sorry I wrote so fast and wasn’t able to edit all my typos with my replies. Anyway, I did ask InsightCuba to send me brochures. Although a bit pricey, the tours seem worth it. How are the accomodations in the provinces? I can’t wait to go! Thanks again for writing so extensively about Cuba.
It is expensive but I thought it was definitely worth it. It is the first time I ever did a full day tour but I learned so incredibly much and truly loved every tour and every minute of it. The hotel in Havana is first rate and the one in the provinces is not as nice but still good. Probably more like a three star. Please let me know if you have any more questions about the trip as I’d be happy to talk about it more!